Holiday Reading 2001

Fiction for younger readers

Briggs, Raymond Ug: boy genius of the Stone Age
To the dismay of his parents and friends, a prehistoric boy is always thinking about ways of making things softer, warmer, and nicer, rather than being happy with his world of stone. In typical Briggs' fashion this is both funny and poignant.
Broome, Errol Away with the birds
Shortlisted for the Children's Book Council of Australia's Children's Book Awards.
Deedy, Carmen Agra The yellow star: the legend of King Christian X of Denmark
Retells the (probably largely apocryphal) story of how King Christian X inspired the Danish people's resistance to the Nazis during World War II.
Kimmel, Eric A The jar of fools: eight Hanukkah stories from Chelm
Drawing on traditional Jewish folklore, these Hanukkah stories relate the antics of the people of Chelm.
King-Smith, Dick Lady Lollipop
A quick-witted swineherd and a pig named Lollipop are royally rewarded after they reform a spoiled princess.
MacLachlan, Patricia Caleb's story
The stranger lurking on the Witting family's prairie farm turns out to be their long-lost grandfather, whose presence (plus prodding from Sarah) forces Jacob to deal with his past. Sequel to Sarah, plain and tall and Skylark.
O'Malley, Kevin Humpty Dumpty egg-splodes
An enormous Humpty Dumpty returns to seek revenge on the nursery rhyme characters who let him fall. A story in rhyme.
Pilkey, Dav Captain Underpants and the wrath of the wicked wedgie woman: the fifth epic novel
When Harold and George create an evil monster called the Wedgie Woman, she, along with her terrifying robots and her rabid robo-claw, wreaks havoc on the world, giving the wedgie of doom to unsuspecting people who stand in her way - including Captain Underpants.
Pilkey, Dav Ricky Ricotta's giant robot vs. the mutant mosquitos from Mercury: the second robot adventure novel
A mouse named Ricky Ricotta and his giant flying robot attempt to save the world from an invasion of massive mutant mosquitoes from Mercury.
Pilkey, Dav Ricky Ricotta's giant robot vs. the voodoo vultures from Venus: the third adventure novel
A small mouse named Ricky Ricotta and his best friend, a giant flying robot, save the world from Victor Von Vulture and his vicious voodoo vultures from Venus.
Shulevitz, Uri What is a wise bird like you doing in a silly tale like this?
A nonsense story relating the doings of the Emperor of Pickleberry and his ingenious talking bird Lou.
Stewart, Sarah The journey
A young Amish girl tells her "silent friend", her diary, about all the wonderful experiences she has on her first trip to the city.
Tan, Shaun The red tree
A journey through a child's emotional day.
Thompson, Colin Falling angels
Sally is just a baby when she first begins to soar above her house and garden. Soon she sees other children floating in the sky. Her mother is sceptical, but her grandmother believes her and soon goes with Sally to the far away places she visits every night.
Uttley, Alison The Sam Pig storybook
This favourite title is reprinted in the Faber Children's Classics series.
Wilson, David Henry Never steal wheels from a dog
Jeremy James never stops questioning the world and seeing it from humorous angles. In this new title, he learns to swim, holds a car boot sale, foils some tricycle thieves, saves an old lady, causes mayhem at a wedding and cuts his own hair.
Wilson, Jacqueline Sleepovers
Daisy is the new girl at school. Most of the class are friendly, except for stuck-up Chloe. Having Chloe for a friend is hard work, but having her as an enemy would be far worse. Chloe issues a sleepover challenge, but will Daisy take part? If she does she'll have to introduce them to her sister.
Wisniewski, David The secret knowledge of grown-ups: the second file
In the follow-up to The Secret Knowledge of Grown-ups, Caldecott Medal winner Wisniewski reveals more of the real and surprising reasons why grown-ups tell kids to do things such as brush their teeth or clean under the bed.

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